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A 188 day old warning about this river was added. Click on comments below to read it.

Cumberland, Big South Fork - Leatherwood Ford to Station Camp

Cumberland, Big South Fork, Tennessee, US

Leatherwood Ford to Station Camp

Usual Difficulty	I-II(IV) (for normal flows)
Length	8 Miles

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
SOUTH FK CUMBERLAND RIVER AT LEATHERWOOD FORD, TN
usgs-03410210	500 - 5000 cfs	I-II(IV)	00h44m	453 cfs (too low)

River Description

This 8 mile run is a float and paddle run with only one class IV rapid which is portagable. Canoes, kayaks, or rafts are all appropriate crafts for this run. Just keep in mind, much of this run is flat.

Camping Options
Camping can be found at the Bandy Creek Campground just a few miles to the west of Leatherwood Ford put-in.

Shuttle Directions
Complete shuttle directions can be found here.

Complete information on the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area can be found here.

StreamTeam Status: Not Verified

Last Updated: 2007-04-26 22:15:06

Editors

Rapid Summary

Mile	Rapid Name	Class	Features (Legend)
2.0	Angel Falls	IV

Rapid Descriptions

Angel Falls (Class IV, Mile 2.0)
This rapid is worth taking a look. Many people portage. It has claimed a few lives over the years due to an undercut rock on the left side of the channel. Don't blunder into this one.

User Comments

2012-12-12 12:53:27 (188 days ago)

Mike GilchristDetails

Sewage Contamination Warning Issued on 12/07/12 and still in effect on 12/11/12 From:
https://news.tn.gov/node/10012 NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
has reissued a recreational water contact advisory for the lower portion of the New River,
including a section within the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, due to
operational failures at the Huntsville, TN wastewater treatment plant. TDEC issued a similar
advisory in March 2012 and rescinded when the treatment plant's performance returned to compliance.
The public is cautioned to avoid recreational uses of this portion of the New River, which is
downstream from river mile 14.8. The advisory pertains to all water contact activities such as
kayaking, swimming and fishing. ...

2012-06-27 12:23:44 (356 days ago)

Paddleup (154640)

Several fatalities at Angel Falls have actually occurred on the RIGHT side of this rapid. Two large
undercut boulders form a strainer which can trap you even at moderate flow. I believe the last two
fatalities here were due to inexperienced paddlers being caught in this strainer while seeking to
bypass the larger more intimidating rapid on the left.

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